Emergency exit lock



NOV. 1969 w. o. BALDUCCI'ET AL 3,477,260

EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1968 R../ mmmw E 8iMW 54% Q5 Q mm m MQM a [m Z w M Nov. 11, 1969 W. O. BALDUCCI ET ALEMERGENCY EXIT LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1968 1969 w. o.BALDUCCI ET AL 3,477,260

EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK Filed Jan. 18, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United StatesPatent 3,477,260 EMERGENCY EXIT LOCK Walter O. Balducci, New Britain,and Nicholas A. Welch, West Hartford, Conn., assignors to EmhartCorporation, Bloomfield, C0nn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Jan.18, 1968, Ser. No. 698,755 Int. Cl. Eb 65/10; E05c 15/02 US. Cl. 70-9219 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of invention Thisinvention relates in general to locks and deals more particularly withan improved emergency exit lock and a latch bolt operating and hold backmechanism therefor.

Summary of invention In accordance with the present invention, anemergency exit lock is provided which has a slender elongated casestructure supporting a latch bolt for movement between projected andretracted positions. The latch bolt is biased to projected position andis movable to retracted position in response to the operation of anexternal manually operable member or lever. The lock also includes alatch bolt retractor and hold back mechanism operabe independently ofthe lever in response to operation of another external manually operablemember such as a key. The latter mechanism includes cam and retractorelements which have coengaging cam surfaces. The cam element is arrangedto move the retractor element in response to rotation of the key in onedirection to cause the latch bolt to move to its retracted position inwhich position it may be held back, if desired.- An adjusting means isprovided to predetermine the degree of latch bolt retraction to beattained by operation of the key.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a front elevational view ofan emergency exit fixture embodying the present invention and shownmounted on the inner face of an outwardly opening door.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view and shows the active caseof the fixture of FIG. 1, the case cover being partially broken away toreveal mechanism in the case.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view and shows the case of FIG. 2 partiallyin section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and partially broken awayto reveal mechanism therein, the latch bolt retractor mechanism beingshown in a position corresponding to a projected position of the latchbolt.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the active case shownin FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view and shows the inactive case of thefixture of FIG. 1 partially in section 3,477,260 Patented Nov. 11, 1969"ice taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 1 and partially broken away toreveal mechanism therein.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the inactive case taken along the line 88of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the latch bolt retractor andcam assembly as viewed from above and looking toward the rear of thelock.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 9 but viewedfrom above and looking toward the front of the lock and shows therelative position of the latch bolt.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational and shows the active casepartially in section taken generally along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1, thelatch bolt retractor assembly being shown in a position corresponding toa projected position of the latch bolt.

FIG. 12 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the position of thelatch bolt retractor assembly after the key has been rotated through anangle of approximately in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 13 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the position of thelatch bolt retractor assembly after the key has been rotated through onefull revolution in a clockwise direction.

FIG. 14 is generally similar to FIG. 11 but shows the position of thelatch bolt retractor assembly after the adjustment screw has beenpositioned to effect pivotal movement of the retractor element and afterthe key has been rotated through an angle of approximately 90 in aclockwise direction.

Detailed description of preferred embodiment Referring now to thedrawings, an emergency exit fixture embodying the present invention andindicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 is shown mounted on the inner faceof an outwardly opening door 12, hinged at its right edge. The fixture10 has active and inactive cases respectively generally indicated at 14and 16 fastened near opposite edges of the door. The active case 14carries a latch bolt 18 for engaging a strike (not shown) and associatedlatch bolt operating mechanisms which include an actuating lever 20. Asimilar lever 22 supported on the inactive case and biased away from thedoor 12 in a manner hereinafter further described is connected with theactuating lever 20 by a horizontal crossbar or panic bar 24 whichtransmits the biasing force to the actuating lever. Slight pressure onthe crossbar in the direction of the door is effective to retract thelatch bolt or move it out of engagement with the strike and therebyrelease the door to allow immediate egress.

The operating mechanism also includes a latch bolt retractor assembly,indicated generally at 25 in FIGS. 2 and 3, manually operableindependently of the actuating lever to retract the latch bolt and holdit back or retain it in its retracted position. In the illustratedembodirnent 10, the manual means for operating the latch bolt retractormechanism 25 independently of the lever 20 includes a key 26 associatedwith a conventional lock cylinder 27 operatively connected to theretractor mechanism.

The exit fixture 10 is reversible, that is to say, the position of thevarious parts of the fixture may be reversed or interchanged withrespect to a door and to each other to adapt the fixture for mounting onright or left handed doors without addition or substitution of parts.For this reason, various parts of the structure hereinafter furtherdescribed are symmetrical.

Considering first the active case 14 and its associated mechanism andreferring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that this casecomprises a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shell.Preferably, it is made in two parts and includes a base 28 and adetachable cover 30. The base is symmetrical about a horizontal medianplane and has an apertured rear wall 32. Upper and lower walls 34 and 36and sidewalls 38 and 40 pro ject forwardly from the rear wall 32 andterminate in a forwardly facing peripheral edge 33. The sidewall 38 hasa generally rectangular opening 42 for the bolt 18, and a pair ofintegrally formed ears or bosses 44, 44 which projects forwardlytherefrom above and below the said opening to provide pivot journals forthe bolt.

The latch bolt 18 is supported on the active case 14 for pivotalmovement about a generally vertically extending axis 45 betweenprojected and retracted positions respectively indicated in full andbroken lines in FIG. 4. Support for the bolt is provided by a pivot pin46 which extends through the latch bolt and the ears 44, 44. Acompression spring 48 received in an inwardly opening recess in thelatch bolt bears against the sidewall 40 to bias the latch bolt to itsprojected position as best shown in FIG. 4. The latch bolt has asubstantially flat forward face 50 for engaging the strike to move thelatch bolt to its retracted position as the door 12 is moved to a closedposition and an arcuate rear face 51 for holding engagement with thestrike when the door attains its closed position. Operative connectionbetween the latch bolt 18 and its associated operating mechanismhereinafter described is provided by a pin 52 which extends through andprojects above and below the inner end of the latch bolt in spacedparallel relation to pivot pin 46.

The active case cover 30 is substantially identical to andinterchangeable with the cover for the inactive case 16 and for thisreason it is symmetrical about a vertical median plane. The cover 30 isadapted for complementary mating engagement with the base peripheraledge 33 and has a front wall 54, a rearwardly opening central recess 56and a vertically disposed slot 58 which opens through the front Wall andcommunicates with the said recess. In the front wall above the recess 56there is formed a rearwardly opening cylindrical recess 60. The frontwall also has a rearwardly facing abutment surface 62 above the latterrecess. Bosses 64 and 66 project rearwardly from the front wall 54 incomplementary engagement with associated inner surface portions of thebase walls 34, 36, 38 and 40 to maintain the cover 30 in assembledalignment with the base 28. A pair of ears 68, 68 are integrally formedon the cover 30 to extend rearwardly into the base 28 in closeassociation with the side walls 38 and 40 to provide support for theactuating lever 20. The cover and base are held in assembly by screws70, 70 which extend through the rear wall 32 and respectively threadablyengage the bosses 64 and 66. Mounting screws 72, 72 extend through thecover and the base 28 to fasten the active case 14 in operationalposition on the door 12.

The actuating lever 20 and the lever 22 are substantially identical butof opposite hand. Each of these levers is supported on an associatedcover 30 by a pivot pin 74 which extends through the inner end of thelever and through the ears 68, 68 and is pivotally movable betweenextended and depressed positions respectively indicated in full andbroken lines in FIG. 3. Each pivot pin 74 is surrounded by a nylonbushing 76 and is loosely received in the ears 68, 68 being retainedtherein by assembly of the cover with the base.

Further considering the interchangeable levers 20 and 22 and referringparticularly to the lever 20 (FIG. 3), this lever extends through theslot 58 and has an inner end portion received in the recess 56. In theinner end of the lever there is formed a relatively wide upwardlyopening notch 78 partially defined by a finger 80 which extends radiallyupwardly in relation to the pivot pin 74. At its upper or free end, thefinger 80 is rounded to engage the lower end of the pin 52 which isreceived in the notch 78. At the inner end of the lever 20 below thepivot pin 74, there is formed a radially downwardly opening notch 82partially defined by generally radially extending abutment surfaces 84and 86. A pin 88 carried by the ears 68, 68 extends transversely of therecess 82 for engaging the abutment surfaces 84 and 86 to thereby limitthe arcuate travel of the lever 20 and prevent it from engaging theupper and lower edges of the slot 58 with resulting damage to the cover.On the inner end of the lever rearwardly of the pivot pin 74 there isformed a radially disposed and upwardly facing abutment surface 90. Thelatter abutment surface functions when the lever 20 is supported on theinactive case 16 and this function will be hereinafter further discussedwith reference to that case.

Considering now the latch bolt retractor assembly 25 and referringparticularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly generally comprises a rotarycam element 92 supported in the active case 14 for rotation in one andthe opposite direction about a fixed axis 93 and a retractor element 94supported for movement generally along and relative to the latter axis.The retractor element is operably associated with the latch bolt 18 andis movable between first and second positions respectively correspondingto projected and retracted positions of the latch bolt. The two elementshave coengaging cam surfaces generally normal to the axis 93 and are soarranged that rotation of the cam element in one direction causescorrenspoding movement of the retractor element in an axial directionwith respect to the cam element to move the latch bolt toward itsretracted position. Preferably and as shown, the retractor assembly alsoincludes a blocking element or holdback sleeve 96 to prevent return ofthe latch bolt to its projected position when the cam element has beenrotated one full revolution in one direction.

The axial movement of the retractor element is generally sutficient toeffect full retraction of the latch bolt. However, preferably and asshown, the retractor element is also arranged to pivot about an axisextending transversely of the cam axis 93 in response to its aforesaidaxial movement. A means is provided to adjust this pivotal movement andthereby vary the magnitude of the latch bolt movement in response torotation of the cam element. This arrangement provides a means forpredetermining the degree of latch bolt retraction.

Further considering the latch bolt retractor assembly and referringparticularly to FIGS. 2, 3, 9 and 10, it will be seen that the camelement 92 has a generally cylindrical hub 98 which includes a rear wall99 and a forwardly opening cylindrical bore 100. An annular flange 102surrounds the forward end of the hub 98 and has a forwardly projectinglug 104 integrally formed thereon. The forward end of the lug issomewhat rounded to form a cam surface 106 normal to the axis 93. Therear portion of the hub is received in a cylindrical aperture in thebase rear wall 32 and is retained in assembly therewith by an elongatedtubular member 107 one end of which extends into the bore 100, the otherend being received in the cylindrical recess 60, as best shown in FIG.3. Intersecting slots 108, 108 formed in the hub wall 99 andcommunicating with the bore receive an operating spindle or tail 110 onthe key plug of the lock cylinder 27 and thereby provide operativeconnection between the cam element 92 and the key 26. At this point itshould be noted that the tail 110 extends for some distance into thebore of the tubular members 107, as shown in FIG. 11. This arrangementpermits the fixture 10 and its lock cylinder 27 to be installed on doorsof various thickness without requiring that the length of the tail 110be altered. A nylon bearing washer 112 and a spring washer 114 surroundthe hub between the rear Wall 32 and flange 102 to retain the camelement for smooth rotation about the axis 93 in response to rotation ofthe key 26.

The retractor element 94 and the hold-back sleeve 96 are looselyreceived on and retained in assembly by the member 107. The retractorelement has a body portion 116 and a forwardly offset lever arm 118which extends downwardly from the body portion and has a downwardlyopening notch 122 formed'therein which receives the upper end of the pin52. Another lever arm 124 extends upwardly from the body portion andcarries an adjustment screw 126. The latter screw is threadablyadjustable relative to the reactor element and generally toward and awayfrom the cover abutment surface 62 and has a contact surface 128 at itsforward end for engaging the latter abutment surface. The abutmentsurface 62 provides a fulcrum about which the retractor element 94pivots in response to rotation of the cam element 92 in one direction.Access to the screw 128 for adjustment purposes is gained through anaperture 130 in the base rear wall 32 when the active case 14 isdismounted from the door 12. At its forward end the retractor elementhas a vertically elongated opening 131 therethrough partially defined bylaterally opposed abutment surfaces 132 and 134. The opening 131 has awidth substantially equal to the outside diameter of the tubular member107 and communicates with a rearwardly opening generally cylindricalbore 136 in the body portion 116 which has a diameter substantiallygreater than the outside diameter of the latter tubular member. Arearwardly facing annular cam surface 138 (FIG. surrounds the bore 136and will be hereinafter further described.

The hold-back sleeve 96 is a generally cylindrical tubular memberreceived in the bore 136 and arranged for limited angular movement toand from a hold back or blocking position relative to the retractorelement 94 by a lug 140 which projects forwardly through the opening 131between the abutment surfaces 132 and 134. The inside diameter of thetubular sleeve 96 is substantially larger than the outside diameter ofthe member 107 so that the sleeve and its associated retractor lever 94are loosely retained by the latter member for axial movement thereon andfor pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely thereof.However, it should be noted that both the retractor element 94 and itsassociated sleeve 96 are restrained against rotation about the axis 93by near engagement of the lever arm 124 with the base walls 38 and 40 asbest shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 96 also includes a rerawardly facingannular carn surface 142 coaxially aligned with the cam surface 138 andwhich cooperates with the latter surface and with the cam surface 106.

Considering now the cam surfaces 138 and 142 in further detail and themanner in which these surfaces cooperate with the cam surface 106 toeffect movement of the latch bolt and referring particularly to FIGS.9-14, it will be noted that both the body portion 116 and the sleeve 96have rearwardly opening notches therein respectively indicated at 144and 146. When the lock cylinder 27 is in a locked condition as itappears in FIG. 3, the notches 144 and 146 are generally aligned andreceive the lug 104 therein, the retractor element 94 being in its firstposition as it appears in FIGS. 3 and 11. The lug 140 engages theabutment surface 134, as best shown in FIG. 2, when the two notches arein the aforedescribed aligned position.

During initial rotation of the key in a clockwise direction from itsposition in FIG. 3 toward an unlocked position, movement of theretractor element 94 is effected by coengagement of the cam surfaces 106and 138. The cam surface 138 includes a riser portion 148 for moving theretractor element 94 axially with respect to the cam element from itsfirst position to a second position and a dwell portion 150 forretaining the retractor in the latter position during further rotationof the cam element in clockwise direction (FIG. 10). The cam surface 138also includes an indicating or riser portion 152 for providing increasedresistance to further rotation of the key in the clockwise directionwhen the retractor element 94 has moved to and is retained in its secondposition. It will be noted that the lug 106 engages the riser portion152 when the key 2 6 has been rotated approximately 90 in the clockwisedirection. At this point the key remains trapped in the lock cylinder 27by the lock tumblers (not shown) in a manner well known in the art.However, the latch bolt is held in a retracted position so that the dooris released and may be opened without further manipulation of the key.Reverse rotation of the key from the latter position to its original orlocked position permits the key 26 to be withdrawn from the lock whenreturned to its closed position.

Further positions of coengagement are provided between the cam surface106 and the cam surfaces 138 and 142 to hold back the latch bolt 18 orretain it in its retracted position after the door 12 has been opened.Further rotation of the key 26 in the clockwise direction from theindicating portion 152 may cause slight further forward movement of theretractor element 94 in an axial direction with resulting furthermovement of the latch bolt to a retracted position. However, preferably,the latch bolt retractor mechanism is adjusted so that the latch boltattains its fully retracted position when the lug 104 engages the camsurface 150. Thereafter, further rotation of the key 26 in a clockwisedirection beyond the indicating position 152 causes the spring washer114 to be compressed. When the key has been turned approximately 180 ina clockwise direction, the lug 104 encounters a detent or sloped surfaceportion 154 of the cam surface 138 after which it engages a dwellportion 155 of the sleeve cam surface 142. As the key 26 approaches 360rotation, the lug 104 engages an abutment or riser portion 156 of thecam surface 142 whereupon further rotation of the key in the clockwisedirection causes the sleeve 96 to rotate in the same direction or toshift to its blocking positions as it appears in FIG. 13. In theblocking posi tion, the notch 146 in the sleeve is out of alignment withthe notch 144 as shown in FIG. 13. Thus the lug 104 cannot re-enter thenotch 146 so that the retractor element is prevented from returning toits first position. Further clockwise rotation of the key toward its 360position causes the lug 104 to move along the riser portion 156 to adwell portion 158 on the sleeve cam surface. When the lug 106 engagesthe dwell portion 158 the latch bolt 18 has moved to and is held in afully retracted position. When the key is turned through one fullrevolution in the clockwise direction to its 360 position the lug 104engages an abutment surface 159 on the sleeve 96 which prevents furtherkey rotation in the clockwise direction. At this point the key 26 may bewithdrawn from the lock cylinder 27 leaving the exit lock in an unlockedcondition.

The lock cylinder 27 will remain in its unlocked condition until it isagain locked by inserting the key 26 and rotating it through one fullrevolution in an opposite or counterclockwise direction to its lockingposition. The cam surface detent portion 154 serves to defeat attemptsto unlock the latch bolt retractor mechanism or move it from its holdback position by setting up vibration in the exit fixture 10 as bypounding on the door 12 or by applying repeated shocking force to thepanic bar 24 or the active case 14.

As the latch bolt 18 is moved between its projected and retractedpositions in response to operation of the key 26 it will be noted thatthe lower end of the pin 52 is free to travel in the notch 78 out ofengagement with the actuating lever 20. Thus, the key 26 may be operatedindependently of the actuating lever, that is to say, it may be operatedwithout effecting movement of the actuating lever. When the actuatinglever 20 is moved to its depressed position, the finger engages thelower end of the pin 52 to pivot the latch bolt 18 to a retractedposition. It will be noted that this movement of the actuating leverwill cause a corresponding movement of the retractor element 94 relativeto its axis 93. However, this motion is not transmitted to the rotarycam element 92. Therefore, it will be apparent that the actuating leveris also operable independently of the key 26.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide the exit fixture 10without the latch bolt hold back feature so that the key 26 cannot beremoved from the lock cylinder leaving the door in an unlockedcondition. This hold back feature may be eliminated from the fixture 10without substantially altering it by substituting a solid spacer washer(not shown) of appropriate thickness for the spring washer 114. Thus, ifthe latch bolt retractor mech anism is adjusted so that the latch boltattains its fully retracted position when the lug 104 engages the camsurface 150 further rotation of the key 26 in a clockwise directionbeyond the cam surface 150 will be prevented by engagement of the lug104 with the indicator portion 152. The latch bolt is then held in aretracted position so that the door is released and may be openedwithout further manipulation of the key, however, the key remainstrapped in the lock cylinder 27 by the lock tumblers (not shown). Toremove the key it is necessary to rotate it from the latter position toits original or locked position so that the door will automatically lockwhen returned to its closed position.

The active case 14 and the retractor mechanism 25 may be so constructedand arranged that when the latch bolt 18 attains a fully retractedposition the retractor element 94 moves into abutting engagement withthe rear surface of the case cover 30. When the fixture 10 isconstructed in this manner the hold back feature may be eliminatedtherefrom by the simple expedient of substituting a spacer washer,preferably nylon, for the spring washer 114 without adjustment of theretractor mechanism and such construction is contemplated within thescope of this invention.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the active case14 and its associated mechanisms may comprise a complete exit fixtureand in such case the actuating lever 20 may be provided with anoperating paddle (not shown) at its free end in place of the panic bar24 as is well known in the art. When the exit fixture is arranged inthis manner, the biasing means associated with the ac tuating lever 20will be contained within the active case 14. However, as previouslynoted, in the illustrated embodiment 10, the biasing means for urgingthe lever 20 to its extended position is contained within the inactivecase 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the inactive case16 is also made in two parts and includes a base 160 and a cover 30substantially identical to the aforedescribed cover on the active caseand supporting the lever 22. The base 160 is symmetrical about avertical median plane and is generally similar in outward appearance tothe base 28 but differs therefrom in that includes a rear wall 162 whichhas a vertically elongated slot 164 therethrough and a transverse wall166 which projects forwardly from the rear wall. A slide 168 housed inthe case 16 has a vertically elongated guide portion 170 slidablyreceived in and generally complementing the slot 164. The slide also hasa depending tail piece 172 and a forwardly facing bearing surface 174which slidably engages a nylon button 176 received in the cover recess60. An elongated spring 178 received in an upwardly opening bore in theslide bears against the transverse wall 166 to urge the slide downwardlyso that the tail piece 172 bears against the abutment surface 90 to biasthe lever 22 outwardly from the door 12 or toward its extended positionas it appears in FIG. 7.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and suchembodiment has been described, but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made from the construction disclosed and that thedrawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limitingthe scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. An emergency exit lock comprising an active case, a latch boltsupported by and movable relative to said active case between projectedand retracted positions, a

first external manually operable member movable between first and secondpositions and operable upon movement to said second position to movesaid latch bolt to said retracted position, a latch bolt retractorelement also operatively associated with said latch bolt in said caseand movable between first and second positions corresponding toprojected and retracted positions of said latch bolt, a rotary camelement supported on a fixed axis in said case, said cam and retractorelements having wongaging cam surfaces generally normal to said camelement axis, movement of said cam element in one direction causingmovement of said retractor element along the axis of said cam element,said retractor element being movable to its second position in responseto rotation of said cam element in said one direction, and a secondmanually operable member for rotating said cam element in said onedirection.

2. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of saidcam surfaces includes a riser portion for moving said retractor elementfrom its first to its second position in response to rotation of saidcam element through a part of one revolution in said one direction and adwell portion for holding said retractor element in said second positionin response to further rotation of said cam element in said onedirection.

3. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of saidcam surfaces includes an indicating position for increasing resistanceto the further manual rotation of said second operable member in saidone direction when said retractor element attains its second position.

4. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of saidcam surfaces includes a detent portion for increasing resistance torotation of said cam element in said opposite direction after saidretractor element attains its second position.

5. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including means forpreventing the return of said retractor element to its first position inresponse to the rotation of said cam element through one full revolutionin said one direction.

6. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means forpreventing the return of said retractor element comprises a blockingmember movable to a blocking position with respect to said retractorelement in response to rotation of said cam element in said onedirection and movable out of said blocking position in response torotation of said cam element in an opposite direction.

7. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retractorelement includes a sleeve received therein and movable relative thereto,said sleeve comprising said blocking member and partially defining oneof said cam surfaces.

8. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said camsurfaces are defined by an annular surface on one said element and a lugprojecting from the other said element.

9. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including means forvarying the magnitude of movement of said latch bolt in response torotation of said cam element in said one direction.

10. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said activecase is a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shell andwherein said retractor is a vertically disposed lever pivotal about anaxis extending transversely of said case.

11. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latchbolt is supported by said active case for pivotal movement about an axisextending transversely of said cam element axis, said retractoroperatively engaging said latch bolt in spaced relation to said latchbolt aixs.

12. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including means forbiasing said first member toward said first position.

13. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 12 including aninactive case spaced from said active case, said first member comprisingan actuating lever, another lever and an elongated bar providingconnection therebetween, each said lever being supported for pivotalmovement by a respectively associated said case, said biasing meansbeing operatively associated with said other lever in said inactivecase.

14. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 13 wherein saidinactive case in a relatively narrow vertically elongated hollow shelland said biasing means comprising a slide supported for verticalmovement in said shell and bearing against said other lever in spacedrelation to the axis thereof and spring means for urging said slidetoward said other lever.

15. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 1 including a lockcylinder operatively connected with said cam element and wherein saidsecond external manually operable member is a key for operating saidlock cylinder.

16. An emergency exit lock comprising a case, a latch bolt supported byand movable relative to said case between projected and retractedpositions, a first external manually operable member movable betweenfirst and second positions and operable upon movement to said secondposition to move said latch bolt to said retracted position, a rotarycam element supported on a fixed axis in said case, a latch boltretractor element operatively associated with said latch bolt andsupported in said case for pivotal movement and movement in an axialdirection with respect to said cam element axis between first and secondpositions corresponding to projected and retracted positions of saidlatch bolt, said cam and retractor elements having coengaging camsurfaces, rotation of said cam element in one direction causing movementof said retractor element to its second position, and a second manuallyoperable member for rotating said cam element in said one direction.

17. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 16 wherein saidretractor has a contact surface spaced from said cam eleihent axis andincluding fulcrum means for engaging said contact surface to cause saidpivotal movement of said, retractor in response to the movement of saidcam element in said one direction.

18. An e mergency exit lock as set forth in claim 17 wherein said activecase includes two parts, said fulcrum means comprising an abutmentsurface on one of said parts.

19. An emergency exit lock as set forth in claim 17 wherein said contactsurface is defined by an adjustment screw carried by said retractor andthreadably adjustable relative thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,364 12/1923 Hurd 292-165 X2,854,838 10/1958 Foster 92 2,962,889 12/1960 McConnell 70-92 3,087,3234/1963 Foster 70-92 3,345,099 10/1967 Paul 292-21 MARVIN A. CHAMPION,Primary Examiner E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R 70-140;292 9a

